Rise of suicide rate needs urgent action

Ghana is reported to have lost 81 lives to suicide in the first half of this year, with more than 500 attempted suicides over the same period.

The statistics are alarming, especially when compared to the total cases recorded for the entire 2023, which were 48 completed suicides and 594 suicide attempts, as disclosed by the Board Chairperson of the Mental Health Authority (MHA), Estelle Appiah (refer to last Wednesday’s edition).

In addition to these statistics, the Head of Therapy and Wellness Department at the 37 Military Hospital, Dr Erica D. Dickson, has described suicide deaths among police officers in the country as an issue of concern (refer to page 13).

Quoting a study conducted between 2015 and 2021, she said 69 police officers lost their lives through suicide during that period.

The two personalities were speaking at the 2024 World Suicide Prevention Day Forum in Accra last Tuesday.

The Daily Graphic sees the revelations as a wake-up call to the nation to do something immediately to halt these alarming figures. The disturbing trend demands immediate attention, collective action, and a comprehensive approach to address the underlying factors driving this public health crisis.

The statistics presented by MHA paint a grim picture. With over 500 attempted suicides in the same period, it is clear that the issue extends far beyond mere numbers. Every citizen must be concerned because each life lost represents a shattered family, a traumatised community, and a nation's failed promise to protect its citizens.

We note that Ghana's struggle with mental health is not new, but the growing prevalence of suicide underscores the urgency for systemic change. The MHA has identified key risk factors that are responsible for the situation, which are: previous attempts at suicide, mental illness, substance abuse, financial crisis, chronic illness and impulsive behaviour. 

However, the Daily Graphic considers these factors as only scratching the surface of a complex issue entrenched in societal attitudes and structural deficiencies. The stigma and taboo surrounding mental illness and suicide remain significant barriers to seeking help. The culture of silence and shame perpetuates suffering, forcing individuals to hide their struggles rather than seeking support. This must change in the country. Citizens need to foster an environment where vulnerability is met with empathy, understanding and accessible resources.

The decriminalisation of suicide through the Criminal Offences Amendment Act 2023 is a step in the right direction. However, we add our voice to that of the MHA Board Chairperson, Estelle Appiah, that the language used in the amendment requires correction to avoid oversimplifying the complexities of suicide.

Further to this, the country requires a multi-faceted approach to effectively combat the crisis. We must integrate mental health education into the school curricula as a way to empowering the future generation with awareness and coping strategies, while expanding mental health services and ensuring equitable distribution and affordability, particularly in the rural areas. Again, the government through the Mental Health Authority with the collaboration of the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) should offer support to community-led programmes that promote social connections and early intervention. In doing this, we advocate that such programmes must target high-risk groups such as the youth, the elderly and low socioeconomic communities, as these groups are usually vulnerable to mental illness.

The problem of mental illness can in no way be addressed by one individual. Therefore, there should be intersectoral collaboration among health authorities, the security agencies, the educational sector, our legal professionals and the media in a unified effort to address the incidence of suicide.

This is also the time for the authorities to enhance data gathering and analysis to inform policy decisions and track progress. The government, civil society and individuals must join forces to break the silence surrounding mental health by encouraging open conversations about mental health, suicide and supporting affected families and communities as they cope with the challenge of mental health cases.

Suicide prevention is everyone's responsibility. We must all acknowledge the complexity of this issue and work together to create a society that values mental health, supports vulnerable individuals and ultimately reduce the alarming rise of the suicide numbers in the country.